Piano playing attachment



Dec. 31, 1963 H. w. SWEENY 3,115,802

PIANO PLAYING ATTACHMENT Filed May 3. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HERBERT W. SWEENY BY V) W Dec. 31, 1963 H. w. SWEENY 3,115,802

PIANO PLAYING ATTACHMENT Filed May a, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.HER BERT W. SwEENY ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,115,802 PIANOPLAYING ATTACHMENT Herbert W. Sweeny, 3708 Revere Drive, Toledo, 01120Filed May 3, 1962, Ser. No. 192,259 1 Claim. (Cl. 84-160) This inventionrelates to mechanical piano players and an object is to produce a pianoplayer which is readily adaptable to an upright piano and may be readilyapplied to or removed from the piano and when in place on the piano doesnot interfere with manual playing.

Another object is to produce a new and improved piano player in whichthe strings of the piano are struck by the usual hammers which areactuated by the armatures of solenoids energized by electrical circuitsestablished by pneumatic means.

further object is to associate electro-magnetic means with each solenoidto insure that an extra force is imparted to the hammer substantially atthe time of impact upon the piano string.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will here inafter appearand, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodimentof the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE1 is a fragmentary schematic view in perspective of an upright pianohaving electrical playing mechanism associated with a player rolloperator with a pneumatic control device;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional View substantially on the line 22 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view partly in section showing thepneumatic and electrical operating devices and also the wiringarrangements; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an upright pianohaving the usual front panel assembly 10a and vertical side panels 1%.The piano has the usual row of playing keys 11.

FIGURE 2 shows the linkage associated with each of the keys 11 and atthe inner end of each key is a vertical bar 13, the upper end of whichis pivoted to a spring tensioned actuating arm 14. One end portion ofthe actuating arm 14 is pivoted to a depending bracket 15 suitablysecured to a transverse wooden frame bar 16. Upon upward movement of thevertical bar 13 the actuating arm 14 imparts upward movement to a pusharm 17, the upper end of which engages a pivoted block 18 to which isattached an arm 18a carrying the hammer 19 at its upper end. The hammeris adapted to strike against the wire W to create the tonal vibration.It will be observed that the actuating arm 14 has a lateral extension 20on the under side of which is a curved cam-like surface 21.

It will be understood that the above describes a conventional uprightpiano structure. Detail description and il lustration of such structureare not considered necessary, because the same is well known to thoseskilled in this art. However the above description will afford thegeneral organization to enable a better understanding of the embodimentof the invention hereinafter to be described.

In accordance with this invention a series of vertically disposedarmature shafts 22 are provided, one being associated with eachactuating arm 14. As shown, each armature shaft 22 has a ball end 23which is engageable with the curved cam-like surface 21 so that when theshaft 22 is actuated in response to its solenoid, it will rock therespective arm 14 upwardly thereby to cause the associated hammer 19 tostrike against its wire. A detail description will be given with respectto one of the armature shafts 22 and its associated members, but it willbe understood that the same structure is associated with each of theactuating arms 14.

Patented Dec. 31, 1963 As shown each armature 22 is slidable axiallythrough a solenoid 24. As above mentioned a ball 23 is mounted on theupper end of the shaft and at the lower end is a head 22a of plate-likeform at the lower end. The solenoid is secured by a clamp 25 to ahorizontal angle bar 26 which is secured at its opposite ends in anysuitable manner to the vertical side panels 10b of the piano frame.Connected to the solenoid 24 and suitably insulated therefrom is anelectro-magnet 27 disposed at the bottom end of the solenoid. As willhereinafter fully appear, when the solenoid 24 and the electro-magnet 27are energized, the armature shaft 22 is caused abruptly to move upwardthereby to impart operative movement to the actuating arm 14 for causingthe respective hammer 19 to strike against the wire W. The purpose ofthe electro-magnet 27 is to impart an abrupt or quick action in thefinal movement of the armature shaft and overcome any deceleratedtendency of the armature shaft in response to the action of thesolenoid.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, 28 designates a housing, tothe upper wall of which is connected a tube 29 leading to a suitablesource of suction, of such nature that a slight degree of vacuum iscreated. Within the housing 28 is a baffle 311 adjacent the pipe 29.Dividing the housing 23 into compartments is a horizontal partition 31,the upper compartment being indicated at 32 and a series of verticallydisposed partitions 33 dividing the lower compartment into a series ofchambers 34. Leading from each chamber 34 is a tube 35 which extends toa tracker bar 36.

The tracker bar 36 is provided with a horizontal row of perforations andover the perforated face of the tracker bar passes the conventionalperforated music strip or web 37, which is wound from a reel 39 to areel 38. Any suitable means, such as electric motor means, may beemployed for actuating the spindles for the reels 38 and 39, andregulated to rotate at the desired speed as will be readily understoodby those skilled in this art.

Each chamber 34 has a port 40 which leads to the chamber 32 andcontrolling such port is a ball valve 41. The ball valve 41 is carriedat the end portion of a spring contact arm 42 which is secured in placeby an anchor screw 43. In the normal position of the spring arm 42 thefree end portion engages an insulated stop 44 on the bottom wall of thechamber 34.

In the event that the hole in the tracker bar 36 served by a particulartube 35 is registered by a perforation on the music strip 37,atmospheric pressure is suificient to cause the spring arm 42 to moveupwardly and actuate the ball 41 to close the port 4t). Thereupon theend of the spring arm 42 engages a contact screw 45 for closing thecircuit. In this connection it will be observed that extending from theanchor screw 43, which provides an electrical connection, is a lead 46extending to a transformer 47, which may be connected to the usual housecurrent. From the contact screw 45 extends a lead 43 to one end of thesolenoid 24. Extending from the opposite end of the solenoid 24 is alead 49 which extends to a spring contact arm 59. Normally this contactarm 50 is in engagement with a contact point 51. Extending from thecontact point 51 is a lead 52 extending to the transformer 47. There isa branch lead 53 extending from the lead 43 to one end of theelectro-magnet 27. From the other end of the electro-magnet is a lead 54connected to the lead 52.

From the above description it will be manifest that when the contact arm42 is swung upwardly (FIGURE 3) so that the valve 41 closes the port 40,then the end of the arm 42 engages the contact screw 45 and establishesa circuit, energizing the solenoid 24 and the electromagnet 27, therebycausing the armature 22 abruptly to actuate the respective plate-likehead 22a on the armature shaft for moving the spring contact arm 50 awayfrom the contact piece 51, thereby breaking the circuit and deenergizingthe solenoid. The circuit for the electromagnet 27 will remain closed solong as the ball '41 is seated against the port 40. This makes possiblethe pro-- duction of a sustained note.

Manifestly this entire operation takes place instantaneously. As soon asthe perforation in the music strip 37 passes the aperture leading to therespective tube 35, then the spring arm 42 has sufficient resilience tomove the end portion thereof away from the contact screw 45 and at thesame time unseat the ball 41 sufficiently to uncover the port 40. Suchmovement of the spring arm 42 breaks the circuit to the electro-magnet27. Thus the parts return to their original position until anotherperforation in the music strip 37 is encountered.

From the above description it will be manifest that a battery ofsolenoid-magnet assemblies, one being provided for each string or wire Wof the piano are operated pursuant to the action of the music strip 37passing continuously over the tracker bar 36. One or more perforationsin the music strip may register with tracker bar perforations at thesame time, thereby causing a number of the strings or wires W of thepiano to be simultaneously struck by the respective hammers 19. Bycausing respective armature shafts 22 to actuate the several actuatingarms 14, it will be manifest that the piano will in efiect be played inaccordance with the particular perforations designating the music for aparticular composition. Thus with this attachment in place on the piano,the piano can be played in a normal manner since the mechanism does notat all interfere with the normal playing of the keys. Thus the piano canbe selectively played mechanically or manually.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operationmay be effected without departing ifrom the spirit of the inventionespecially as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A piano player attachment equipped with a perforated tracker bar overwhich a perforated web travels, said attachment comprising a battery ofsolenoids having armatures moveable to actuate the wire-engaging hammersrespectively, a head on one end of each armature, an electro-magnetassociated with each solenoid for augmenting the armature movement,pneumatic means responsive to the moveable perforated web, saidpneumatic means including a housing, means to create a slight vacuum inthe upper portion of said housing, a partition in said housing having aseries of ports, one port being for each operating hammer of the piano,means separating the lower side of the partition into a plurality ofchambers for said ports respectively, tubes leading from the tracker barto said chambers respectively, a ball controlling each port, a springarm carrying each ball and arranged in a chamber and normally holdingthe ball unseated, an anchor screw for one end of said spring arm, acontact member with which the free end of the arm engages when therespective tube is closed by the moving web, an electrical circuitincluding a lead from each contact member to its respective solenoid andalso to its respective electro-magnet, a second lead extending also fromeach solenoid to a power source, a spring switch interposed in suchsecond lead and actuatable by said head of the respective armature aftera predetermined movement thereof, thereby to break the circuit for therespective solenoid, a third lead extending from said electro-magnet forjoining said second lead beyond said switch so that the respectiveelectro-magnet continues to be energized after the solenoid isde-energized and so long as the spring contact arm maintains engagementwith the respective contact member, and a lead from the respectiveanchor screw to the power source for completing the circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS576,342 Davis Feb. 2, 1897 1,073,133 Dorricott Nov. 11, 1913 1,767,739Brown June 24, 1930 2,924,139 Green Feb. 9, 1960

